4/5/11 – Marinex Construction has transitioned dredging activities to the Inner Harbor(Range B) since the last update with concurrent beach nourishment now along the shorelines of Ft. Macon (see the past few updates) . The Inner Harbor is a protected environment and work has progressed nicely – the project could be completed tomorrow. The next update will be provided once the final quantities are available.

3/28/11 – After some high seas last week, Marinex Construction continues to dredge the final shoals in the Outer Harbor (Range A/Cutoff) and should be transitioning to the Inner Harbor(Range B) later this week or next week to complete the project. Nourishment is presently working in the westward direction (towards the Circle) from the effluent near the Tom Doe Regional Access/old Triple S Pier area (see update map above). When the transition is made to Range B, nourishment will also shift to the pipe landing Ft. Macon, also depicted in the project map above. Approximately 200,000 cubic yards of shoal material will be dredged from Range B and placed additionally along the shorelines of Ft. Macon.

3/21/11 – Marinex Construction is in the very final stages of completing (dredging) the Outer Harbor (Range A/Cutoff) and should be transitioning to theInner Harbor(Range B) later this week to complete the project. Nourishment is presently working in the eastward direction (towards Ft. Macon) from the pipe landing near Commerce Way (see update map above). When the transition is made to Range B, nourishment will also shift to the pipe landing Ft. Macon, also depicted in the project map above. Approximately 200,000 cubic yards of shoal material will be dredged from Range B and placed additionally along the shorelines of Ft. Macon.

3/14/11 – Marinex Construction is in the final stages of completing the Outer Harbor (Range A/Cutoff) and should be transitioning to theInner Harbor(Range B). Nourishment will also transition at this point in time from its current area near the eastern dead end of Club Colony Dr. in Atlantic Beach (station 1169+00 on the update map above) to Ft. Macon State Park. The entire project could be completed by the end of this month.

3/7/11 – Nourishment has reached the far west end of the proposed project limits near the Circle (see update map above), and it’s estimated that roughly 1,000,000 cubic yards of material have been dredged to date. Marinex Construction is currently “breaking back” the pipe to Station 1175+00 – 1190+00 (near the Tom Doe Regional Access/old Triple S pier location). They will pump material to this vicinity while completing Range A and touching up the Cutoff (see the Harbor Map).for the dredging ranges). Once these areas are completed, Marinex will conclude the project by dredging Range B and placing this material on Ft. Macon. Roughly 350,000 cubic yards remain in all of the aforementioned ranges that need to be dredged.

2/28/11 – Despite touch and go sea conditions this past weekend, beach nourishment activities progressed 1,200 feet last week and is currently located near the Beaufort Ave. access off East Boardwalk (see station 1108+00 on the progress map above). Sand quality remains excellent (visual observation only).

2/21/11 – Beach nourishment has now progressed to the section west of the OceannaPier as a new “y-valve”has been assembled at station 1120+00 (see progress map above). Sea conditions are not conducive for dredging today but should resume later this week.

2/14/11 – Favorable weather conditions has translated into a very productive week. Over 3,000 linear feet of beach was nourished in the area paralleling Club Colony Drive as dredging was focused in Range A (see harbor map). The section east of the OceannaPier is now complete and after current unfavorable weather conditions subside, nourishment will continue west of the pier and progress towards the Circle (see map progress map above).

2/7/11 – Beach nourishment operations are currently at the eastern dead end of Club Colony Dr. in Atlantic Beach (station 1169+00 on the update map above) as nourishment continues to progress westward towards the Circle. Dredging operations continue to be focused in Range A, and will be for the next several days/weeks prior to ultimately transitioning to Range B (seeharbor map). Weather/sea conditions continue to be “touch and go”, but progress continues. The environmental window for dredging/nourishment closes on April 30, 2011.

2/1/11 – Beach nourishment operations are currently at the Henderson Drive/Tom Doe Memorial Access and progressing westward (station 1180+00 on update map above). Dredging operations were focused on the most seaward portion of the channel and Marinex Construction will soon be dredging back towards the north (land). Initially some of the material dredged last week was very silty and dark-colored, but has since improved.

1/24/11 – Beach nourishment operations remain close to Commerce Way in Atlantic Beach (station 1191+00 on update map above). Last week saw little progress compliments of the weather however Marinex has completed the cutoff and started dredging “Range A” yesterday. The new beach landing for the submerged pipe is also marked on the progress map.

1/17/11 – Beach nourishment operations are close to Commerce Way in Atlantic Beach and will continue to progress westward towards Henderson Dr., Oceanna, the Circle, etc. (current station is 1191+00 on update map above). Dredging has been completed in the “cutoff” and Marinex are currently moving to “Range A” with a concurrent move of the submerged line that extends from the dredge to the beach (see update from 1/10/11 immediately below).

1/10/11 – Beach nourishment operations are approaching Commerce Way in Atlantic Beach and were at station 1196+00 (see update map above) late yesterday afternoon (1/9). There was some weather over the past week that prohibited dredging, but roughly 1,600 linear feet of beach was completed. The submerged line leading from the dredge and emerging on the beach should be moved from the beginning of nourishment in Ft. Macon (station 1266+49) to the area near Commerce Way by or near this weekend. Nourishment activities will subsequently proceed westward from this point, and Ft. Macon beach will be clear of any pipe and equipment.

1/3/11 – Beach nourishment operations are precisely at the boundary demarcating the jurisdictions of Ft. Macon State and Atlantic Beach (see progress map above – station 1227+00). The gate valve and the establishment of a new “y-line” is also positioned at the Ft. Macon/Atlantic Beach border. The beach along Ft. Macon has been groomed (see pictures below), and should be open for complete public use soon. Please note there will be temporary sand ramps that will go over the pipeline that will remain on the beach until the project is completed. These ramps should be used for pedestrian use on the beach rather than trying to climb over bare pipe. Approximately 5,000 linear feet of beach has been nourished to date.

12/20/10 – Beach nourishment operations are very close to the “bath house” at Ft. Macon (see pictures below), and there has been a good amount of progress this past week. Approximately 3,900 linear feet of beach (Ft. Macon) has been nourished to date. There will be a holiday break in dredging/nourishment efforts this upcoming Christmas week. Sand quality remains excellent (visual assessment).

12/13/10– Approximately 2,800 linear feet of beach (Ft. Macon) has been nourished to date as the focus of dredging continues in the “cutoff” region of the navigation channel, in close proximity to Shackleford Banks. Work has been steady the past week but severe winds that started yesterday (westerly at >20 mph) presently have operations on hold, but operations should resume within the next day or so.

12/6/10 – Dredging with concurrent beach nourishment started back late Friday (see 11/29 update below) and has been “on again – off again” since. Nourishment will continue along the shorelines of Ft. Macon for the next few weeks.

11/29/10– The cutterhead pipeline dredge, the Savannah, encountered mechanical issues a few days ago after working through Thanksgiving Thursday; but should be back in operation in a day or two. Approximately 1,000 feet of beach has been nourished and the “y-line” configuration has been implemented as nourishment will continue to progress westward. Dredging operations will remain focused in the “cutoff”region of the channel.

11/22/10 – The Marinex Construction dredge, the Savannah, began dredging in the cutoff range of the channel on 11/20/10 with concurrent beach nourishment along Ft. Macon – currently located between the rock groin near the inlet and the bathhouse (see photos below). Sand quality appears to be excellent based upon visual observations only. Dredging and beach activities will continue “24-7” through the Thanksgiving holiday.

11/12/10 – Marinex Construction is continuing the mobilization process and is anticipated to begin dredging/beach nourishment the weekend of November 20th, a few days after the environmental window opens (11/16).

HOW TO INTERPRET THE PROGRESS MAPfor Interim Operation Plan

Marinex Construction will be utilizing their new cutterhead-suction pipeline dredge, the Savannah, for the 2010-11 Interim Operation Plan effort. A cutterhead-suction dredge utilizes a crane situated on a barge that positions the cutterhead, which looks like a gigantic drill bit, along the seafloor. The cutterhead agitates the sandy bottom, and the resulting slurry of sediment and water is subsequently suctioned into a long tube transitioning into a pipeline that can be extended to a specific target area (beach, upland disposal site, etc.). Pipeline dredges are usually not self-powered, but are towed to the dredging site and secured in place by special anchor piling, called spuds. Additionally, a land-based booster pump will be utilized for the Interim Operation Project to provide additional power to pump dredged sand for a maximum distance of approximately 5 miles (extending from the channel westward past the “Circle” in Atlantic Beach).

Project engineers use “stations” positioned along the beach to monitor construction progress and to verify in-place volumes of sand placed on the beach by dredging contractors. The progress map above provides a detailed view of the project reaches to be completed in winter of 2010-11 with the location/identification of the station numbers. The shaded areas in red represent the completed portions of the project and will be updated on a weekly basis throughout the construction.

The station numbers included in the progress map conveniently correspond to thousands of linear feet along the beach. For instance, the distance between station “1162” and “1212” on the graphic above is approximately 5,000 feet. If you visit the beaches of Ft. Macon and Atlantic beach this winter, you may see wood or metal stakes at the base of the dunes that will identify these station numbers as “1162+00”, “1212+00”, etc.